Information display equipment



NOV. 26, 1968 CARTER 3,412,868

INFORMATION DISPLAY EQUIPMENT Filed April 25, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 26, 1968 E. H. CARTER INFORMATION DISPLAY EQUIPMENT 4 Sheets-Sheet :3

Filed April 25, 1966 1968 E. H. CARTER 3,412,868

INFORMATION DISPLAY EQUIPMENT Filed April 25, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 "'1 lljl 64 79g mmr mmmmmnpmmmm 42 44 4a tA 4/ 39 Nov. 26, 1968 E. H. CARTER 3,412,858

INFORMATION DISPLAY EQUIPMENT Filed April 25, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,412,868 INFORMATION DISPLAY EQUIPMENT Edward H. Carter, Surrey, England, assignor to The Shannon Limited, Surrey, England, a British company Filed Apr. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 544,742 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 27, 1965, 17,698/ 65 9 Claims. (Cl. 211163) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A panel and a supporting member therefor. The panel includes a rectangular panel piece having two border strips attached to its lateral edges and having two lengths of wire having down turned ends forming pivot pins and being attached, respectively, to the upper and lower ends of the panel piece and substantially free from engaging contact with the border strips. A support frame having upper and lower support members, a shroud above one of the support members and including narrow slots with which the wire must be aligned before the panel can be lifted from said one support member.

This invention is concerned with information display equipment of the kind comprising a number of upright rectangular panels each pivoted about an upright axis and having at its upright edges, on at least one side of the panel, grooves to receive and anchor the ends of vertically spaced substantially horizontal strips bearing the appropriate information. The pivot axes of the panels lie side by side so that the panels can be turned over somewhat like the pages of a book. The axes may however lie on a circle or part circle around a supporting column which may be rotatably mounted, or alternatively the axes may lie in a straight row so that they can be mounted on a frame against a wall or on a frame to stand on a desk.

According to this invention, a panel, for use with a supporting frame having upper and lower support members in which the panel may be pivoted, is formed by a rectangular piece of sheet material; two strips of sheet metal bent into channels and secured over the edges of the panel piece, which in use are upright, each strip having at least the edge on one side spaced from the panel so as to form with said panel a longitudinally extending groove for receiving the ends of information strips; and two lengths of wire secured respectively along the top and bottom edges of the panel piece and having down turned end portions to serve as pivot pins near one upright edge of the panel. In use the pivot pins are placed into holes in the horizontal support members.

A panel according to this invention is relatively easy and inexpensive to construct.

Further features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment of the invention and several arrangements of supporting frame in which the panel may be mounted, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a panel according to the invention, part cut away;

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of an information strip;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of a tab;

FIGURE 6 is a section on the line 66 of FIGURE 7 showing a panel mounted in an upright supporting frame secured to a wall;

FIGURE 7 is a section on the line 77 of FIGURE 6 but of a whole frame;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 but of an inclined supporting frame;

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FIGURE 9 shows how a panel may be mounted in a revolving support frame; and

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the arrangement of FIG- URE 9 with part cut away.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 to 5, a panel according to the invention is indicated generally at 10. The panel 10 comprises a rectangular piece 11 of sheet material, for example mild steel. In an alternative, the rectangular piece may be made from stainless steel, plastics material of the required rigidity, and the like. Two strips 12, 13 of sheet metal, for example stainless steel or corrosion resistant plated steel, are bent into channels and secured over those edges of the piece 11 which will be upright in use. Each of the strips 12, 13 on both sides of the panel include an edge portion spaced from the panel to form therewith a longitudinally extending groove for receiving the ends of information strips 15 which bear the appropriate information it is desired to display. The information strips 15 are made from thin wood veneer covered with paper. The strips 12, 13 are secured over the edges of the panel piece 11 by partially punching holes 16 through the ends of the strips; that is to say by carrying out the usual punching operations but to a depth less than the thickness of the sheet metal of the strips 12, 13. The upper and lower edges of the piece 11 are curved round lengths of wire 17, 18 and 19 FIGURE 3 and spot welded to them.

The wires 17 and 18 are each formed at one end with down turned portions 20, 21 respectively which in use act as plvot pins.

The normal method of construction is to bend the edges of the piece 11 round the lengths of wire 17, 18, and then to paint the piece and wires, after which the upright strips 12, 13 are secured over the side edges of the piece 11.

In a complete information display system employing the panel, the edge of the panel remote from the pins 20, 21 normally carries a tab to identify the panel, the tabs in successive panels being staggered. The strip 12 is formed on one side with longitudinally spaced slots 26 to receive anchoring projections 36 on a tab indicated generally at 28 and to allow the tab to be secured in various positions along the strip 12. The tab 28 is formed from two similar pieces of sheet metal each comprising a first portion at 29 formed with a window 30, an intermediate portion 31 and a third portion 32. The two similar pieces face one another and have their intermediate portions 31 spot welded together. There may be two or more spot welds. The windows 30 are aligned. The first portions 29 are spaced apart a suflicient distance to receive a transparent U-shaped cover 34 surrounding a card 35 carrying display identification marking, the arrangement being such that the cover 34 and card 35 can be pushed in between the portions 29 in which position they are firmly but removably held between the portions 29 with the marking displayed through one or both of the windows 30. The edges 33 of the first portions 29 are bent inwards towards one another to prevent the cover and card dropping out. One of the first portions 32 is formed with two internal projections 36 formed by deforming inwards the material of one portion 32. In an alternative arrangement there may be only one projection. In an alternative the strip 12 is formed with slots on both sides and with such an arrangement the tab could have one projection on each portion 32. The projections and tab are such that the tab can be snapped over the edge of the piece 12 and can then be moved along the edge into various locking positions in which the projections 36 extend into slots 26.

FIGURES 6 and 7 show how the panel may be associated with a rectangular supporting frame which is attachable to a wall. The supporting frame comprises upper and lower support members 38, 39 respectively each formed by a horizontal channel, the web portions of which may be secured, for example by screws, to a wall 40. The channels 38, 39 are horizontal. The upright sides of the supporting frame are formed by circular posts 41, 42 secured to the channels 38, 39. The lower flange 43 of the lower channel 39 is formed with a number of spaced holes 44 for receiving the pins 21 of a number of panels. The upper flange 45 of the upper channel 38 is formed with a number of holes 46 corresponding to the holes 44 and for receiving the pins 20 of the panels. The upper flange 47 of the lower channel 39 acts as a shroud and is formed with a number of slots 48 above the holes 44. The arrangement is such that a panel 10 must be moved in the direction of the arrow A at right angles to the supporting frame to a position indicated at 50 in which the pins 26, 21 are disposed over the holes 46, 44 in which position the panel may be lowered so that the pins enter the holes with the horizontal portion of the wire 18 passing through the slot 48. The panel may then be pivoted relative to the support member about the pins 20, 21 into a position such as that indicated at 51 and in such position the panel cannot be accidentally moved from the supporting frame by being knocked upwards since the wire 18 would engage with the shroud 47. It will be observed that the panel can only be removed after it has been brought to a position at right angles to the frame.

In an alternative arrangement the shroud is formed in the upper channel 38.

Instead of being secured to the wall 40, the supporting frame could form part of a desk stand. In either case, the frame may be inclined to the vertical so that the panels fall back naturally to a position in which the desired information on any selected panel can be read without holding the panel, and so that the panels remain away from the position in which they might be dislodged by being accidentally knocked upwards. Such an arrangement is shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 8 where the supporting frame is shown as part of a desk stand indicated diagrammatically at 53 on a desk 54 FIGURES 9 and 10 show an arrangement in which the panels are associated with a desk stand, a part of which is revolvable. The pivot axes of the panels lie around the axis of revolution of the stand. The stand comprises a vertical supporting column 55 rotatably mounted in a boss 57 to which are joined a number of supporting legs 56 which rest on the desk in use. Two circular plates 58, 63 are carried by the column 55 at the upper and lower ends thereof and are formed with a number of angularly spaced holes 59, in which are located respectively the pins 20, 21. The pivot holes 60 are on a greater diameter than the pivot holes 59 so that the pivot axes of the various panels are inclined towards the axis of revolution of the column 55 in an upward direction so that the panels fall back naturally to a position in which the desired information on any selected panel can be read without holding the panel. In an alternative arrangement (not shown) the pivot holes 59, 60 lie on the same diameter. Above the plate 58 is a plate 61 carried by the supporting column 55 for rotation relative thereto and formed with a radial slot 62. The plate 61 forms an adjsutable shroud which can be rotated so that the slot is brought into alignment with whichever pair of holes it is desired to insert a panel into or into alignment with whichever panel is required to be removed. The shroud 61 prevents the accidental removal of panels since thehorizontal portion of the wire 17 must pass through the slot 62 before the panel can be removed.

A circular plate 64 is carried by the column 55 for rotation therewith. The somewhat rounded ends of the pins 21 rest on the plate 64 which is at such a distance below the plate 63 that the bend in the wire 18 does not jam in the holes in the plate 63.

In a further alternative, the tab 28 is formed from a single sheet of metal folded along a centre line and Welded along a line parallel to the fold with a Window between the fold and the weld line to display the identification marking on the card 35. That is to say, the gap between the inturned ends 33 is closed.

I claim:

1. A panel for use with a supporting frame having upper and lower support members, formed by a rectangular panel piece of sheet material; two border strips of sheet material bent into channels and secured to the lateral edges of the panel piece which in use are upright, each border strip having at least the edge on one side spaced from the panel to which it is attached so as to form with said panel a longitudinally extending groove for receiving the ends of information strips; and two lengths of wire secured respectively to the top and bottom edges of the panel piece and having down turned end portions to serve as pivot pins near one upright edge of the panel, and further including a supporting frame mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and having upper and lower support members, each support member having pivot holes therein around the axis of revolution of the frame, which holes receive the pivot pins whereby the panel is pivotally mounted, a shroud comprising a circular plate above the upper support member and mounted for rotation relative thereto, a single slot extending from the edge of the plate so that on rotation of the plate the slot can be brought into alignment with the panel when the panel is required to be removed.

2. A panel and frame as claimed in claim 1 in which the pivot holes in the lower support member are set on a circle of a slightly greater diameter than the pivot holes in the upper support member so that the pivot axis of the panel is inclined slightly towards the axis of revolution of the frame in an upward direction.

3. An information bearing panel in combination with a supporting frame having upper and lower support mem bers, comprising a rectangular panel piece of sheet material, two border strips of sheet material bent into channels and secured to the lateral edges of the panel piece which in use are upright, each border strip having at least one edge on one side of the panel spaced from the panel to which it is attached so as to form with said panel a laongitudinally extending groove for receiving the ends of information strips; and two lengths of wire secured respectively along the top and bottom edges of the panel piece and having down turned end portions to selve as pivot pins near one upright edge of the panel, and wherein said upper and lower support members have an aperture means for receiving the top and bottom said pivot pins respectively, a shroud spaced above one of the support members at a distance such that the shroud is above the wire of the pivot pin associated with that support member when the panel is in the operating position on said supporting frame, the shroud including narrow slots with which the wire must be aligned before a panel can be lifted from the support members, the distance between the upper surface of the length of wire associated with the shroud and the lower surface of the shroud being equal at most to the length of that portion of the pivot pin which is received in the aperture means of the said one support member.

4. The invention of claim 3 in which the shroud and its adjacent support member are the opposite sides of a horizontal channel forming the bottom horizontal limb of a rectangular supporting frame.

5. A panel and frame as claimed in claim 4 in which the slots through which the wires are placed during assembly lie at right angles to the edge of the channel so that a panel can only be lifted and withdrawn from the frame when it lies at right angles to the frame.

6. A panel and frame as claimed in claim 5 in which the supporting frame is inclined backwards slightly so that the panel falls back naturally to a position in which the desired information on the panel can be read without holding the panel and so that the panel remains away 5 from the position in which it might be dislodged by being accidentally knocked upwards.

7. A panel, for use with a supporting frame having upper and lower support members, comprising; a rectangular panel piece of sheet material; two border strips of sheet metal bent to form channels from their upper ends to their lower ends and secured to the lateral edges of the panel piece which edges are upright when the panel is in use, said channels closely embracing both sides of the panel piece, each border strip being of uniform crosssection between its upper and lower ends and having at least one longitudinal edge on one side of the panel piece spaced from the panel piece so as to form with said panel piece a longitudinally extending groove for receiving the ends of information strips; and two lengths of wire secured respectively to the top and bottom edges of the panel piece wherein the top and bottom of the panel piece are wrapped around their respective lengths of wire, respectively, said lengths of wire being substantially free from securing engagement with said border strips, and said lengths of wire having down turned end portions to serve as pivot pins near one of said lateral edges of the panel piece.

8. A panel as claimed in claim 7 wherein the axes of 6 the said lengths of wire lie substantially in the plane of the panel piece.

9. A panel piece as claimed in claim 7 wherein the upper and lower ends of the uniform cross-section border strips are located between the said lengths of wire.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 568,905 10/1896 Holmes s 211-110 941,084 11/1909 Marsh 40-102 1,034,647 8/1912 Rand 40-102 1,249,669 12/1917 Rand 40-102 1,355,062 10/1920 Rand 40-102 1,577,493 3/1926 Rand 40-102 1,766,939 6/1930 Powell 40-102 2,597,426 5/1952 Auckley 40-23 2,617,219 11/1952 Conley et a1. 40-102 3,319,800 5/ 1967 Bowles 211-163 FOREIGN PATENTS 802,583 10/ 1958 Great Britain.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

